Signaling device for letter-stamping apparatus.



H. ANGERSTEIN. SIGNALING DEVICE FOR LETTER STAMPING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24, 1910. RENEWED MAY 5. 1913.

1,079,319, Patented N0v. 25,1913.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPM co. WASHINGTON, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN N ANGERSTEIN, OF BERLIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESN E ASSIGNMENTS, TO AMERICAN STAMP & TICKET VENDING MACHINE 60., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A

CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SIGNALING DEVICE FOR LETTER-STAMPING APPARATUS.

Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

Application filed February 24, 1910, Serial No. 545,793. Renewed May 5, 1913. Serial No. 765,686.

To all whom, it may concern.

'Be it known that I, HERMANN ANGER- STEIN, a subject of the King of Prussia, Emperor of Germany, resident of Berlin, Germany, (whose post-ofiice address is Berlin, S, Hasenhaide 12,) have invented-certain new and useful Improvements in Signaling Devices for Letter-Stamping Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to stamp feeding and aflixing machines, and consists particularly in an improvement applicable to the machine of copending application, Serial No. 492,417, Isselhorst and Anger-stein.

The improvement consists particularly in means for giving an alarm signal when the stamps in the machine are nearly exhausted, so that the operator may be apprised ofjthis fact, and replace the supply of stamps before a number of letters or other packets have been fed through the machine and have not been stamped. In the machine of the application referred to there is used a feeding mechanism for the stamps and a relatively shiftable battery of stamp reels, each of the reels of the battery carrying in roll form stamps of a certain denomination. The battery of the reels being moved to position any desired reel in operative relation with re spect to the feeding mechanism, the stamps from that reel may be fed forward and applied. In connection with each of the stamp reels is provided the alarm mechanism of this invention.

In the accompanying drawing 1 show one embodiment of my invention, in which Figure 1 represents the signaling device mounted in the letter stamping machine. Fig. 2 is a ground plan view of the same.

Mounted within the casing'a of the machine on a shaft extending transversely of.

that casing is a frame work composed of end members 0 suitably connected together and carrying a shaft f, on which are mounted side by side a plurality of stamp reels or spools cl. These stamp reels carried by the frame work constitute a battery of stamp reels. The stamps on the reels are respectively of the denominations desired to be applied to the packets. In the same casing is an operating shaft j for the stamp feed.-

the member 7 from the ing mechanism carryinga notched disk 8 and a stamp strip engaging pawl 11, this shaft being rotatable through the crank and gearing shown in dotted lines. Normally the operating means is'held fixed in position by engagement of the interlocking member 1' with the notch in the periphery of the disk 8. In order to operate the machine, the outer end of the member 1 is depressed, raising member s and simultaneously moving its outer end 79 into engagement with the notched yoke z, and 0011- nected with the battery of the stamp reels. This action-is fully described, and the interlocking mechanism fully claimed in my copending application Serial No. 545,79at.

On each stamp reel is a segmental metallic contact 6 connected with the metallic shaft and hence with the metallic casing a through the intermediate frame work. Normally this contact 6 is entirely covered by the roll of stamps When the roll of stamps is nearly exhausted, however, the segmental contact 6 is exposed. Secured to but insulated from the framing a of the machine is a flexible spring contact 9 normally bearing against the periphery of the roll of stamps opposite the contact 6, and which when the contact 6 is exposed makes contact -.therewith. 'An electric conductor It leads from the flexible contact 9 to a signal i, a conductor 70 from the signal 2' to the battery or other source of power Z, and another conductor m from the battery to a contact 0 secured to the upper part of the frame work a, and like the contact g, insulated therefrom. The contact 0 lies directly above the extended end 7) of the interlocking member a", and thus when. the interlocking member is raised to free the operating means 8, contact is made by the extension 7) with the contact 0, and the electric circuit just traced is completed from the contact 0 to the casing through the interlocking member 1. Therefore, if when the interlocking member r is operated to release the operating mechanism, the stamps on any one of the reels d are nearly exhausted, the alarm signal 2' is sounded and the operator is therefore apprised of the fact that the stamps on the particular reel then in operation is exhausted, and this before he has made any movement of the operating means. For, the stamps being nearly exhausted on one roll d contact is made by g with e, and upon movement of the interlocking member 1 to release the mechanism, the electric circuit of the signal i is closed as follows :battery Z, conductor m, contact 0, interlocking member 1 to casing a, through support I), framing 0, f, contacts 6 and g, conductor it, through alarm i, conductor is and back to the source Z. The operator may. thus replenish the stamps before they are exhausted.

While I have described the best form of my invention now known to me, I desire to have it understood that my invention may be given many forms by those skilled in the art Without departing from its generic spirit. I desire to cover in the annexed claims all such modifications.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is 1. In a stamp aiiixing machine, an operating means, a reel of stamps, a means normally locking the operating means against movement, an electric alarm signal, and means for operating the same comprising a source of power, circuit closing contacts associated with the stamp reel and adapted to be closed on each other when the stamp reel is nearly emptied, circuit connections from said contact including the signal and source of power, and additional circuit closing contacts in said circuit and controlled by the aforesaid locking means.

2. In a stamp aflixing machine, an operating means, a stamp reel, and means normally locking the operating means againstmovement, an alarm signal, means connected with the stampreel for controlling the operation of said signal, and additional controlling means connected with the aforesaid locking means, and operating in conjunction with the first named controlling means only.

3. In a stamp affixing machine, an operating means, a battery of stamp reels, said reels and operating means being electrically connected together, means normally locking the operating means against movement, a segmental contact on the hub of one of said reels, a second contact yieldingly pressed toward the periphery of said hub, an alarm device electrically connected with said second contact on the one hand, a third contact in position to be engaged by said locking means when moved to unlocking position, a source of power, and connections from said alarm signal to the said third contact, said source of power being included in the aforesaid electrical circuit.

i. In a stamp-aflixing machine, an operating means, locking means normally holding said operating means from movement, a signal associated with said locking means to be actuated thereby, and a stamp reel connected with the signal and adapted to control the operation of the same.

5. In a stamp-affixing machine, an operating means, a stamp reel connected with said operating means and adapted to carry a stamp strip, and a signal associated with said operating means whereby the signal is intermittently actuated, said signal being also associated with said stamp reel whereby it is held inoperative by said stamp strip on the reel.

6. In a stamp-affixing machine, an operating means, a stamp reel associated with the operating means and adapted to carry a stamp strip to be fed thereto, and a signal controllable by said reel and adapted to be operated by the reel upon the exhaustion of said stamp strip from the reel.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

HERMANN ANGERSTEIN.

Witnesses VVoLDnMAn I-IAUP'r, HENRY HASPER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

